Art Gallery of Ballarat Annual Report 10-11 Annual Report 2010-11 ISSN 0726-5530 Chair’s Report .................................................................................................4 Art Gallery of Ballarat ACN: 145 246 224 Director’s Report .........................................................................................6 ABN: 28 145 246 224 Association Report .....................................................................................8 40 Lydiard Street North Ballarat Victoria 3350 Women’s Association Report ............................................................10 T 03 5320 5858 F 03 5320 5791 Gallery Guides Report ...........................................................................11 [email protected] Acquisitions ...................................................................................................13 www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au Outward Loan ..............................................................................................27 Exhibitions ......................................................................................................31 Public Programs ........................................................................................35 Education Visits and Programs ..........................................................37 Adopt an Artwork ......................................................................................40 Donations, Gifts and Bequests .........................................................41 Gallery Staff and Volunteers ..............................................................43 Board Members ..........................................................................................44 Budget Summaries .....................................................................................46 Cover image: detail of the ceiling of the Annexe opened in May 2012: Image right: James Oddie Gallery. Image next page: Hugh DT Williamson Gallery Vision Utilising our exceptional collection of works of art, and the creative skills, energy and generosity of spirit of our staff and volunteers, we will create a space where all people who visit will be inspired by the arts. 3 Chair’s Report Art Gallery of Ballarat Board of Directors As we look back and reflect on the year past, the milestones October 2010, the Gallery Board received an injection of his new Chairmanship he can now claim to have led the achieved, the challenges met and the lessons learned, I am fresh financial, fundraising, governance, education and arts three separate entities connected with the Gallery: the reminded again of the passion and commitment of Gallery sector professional skills. Board, the Foundation and the Association. A wonderful supporters. Gallery man indeed! Consolidation included important changes in our valued In early 2011 the Gallery Board considered a request to relationship with the City of Ballarat: the Gallery company’s There are many ways our members and stakeholders lend the Eureka Flag. We were absolutely heartened by owner. We thanked the City of Ballarat’s George Sossi contribute to a Gallery where the visitor can be inspired and the response from the Association Council and members, for his five years of service as in December 2010 his role challenged by our programs and collections. We cannot Guides and major donors who all mobilised to provide passed to Jeff Pulford, whose considerable support we overlook the wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who their considered and thoughtful input in the lead up to the also acknowledge. Councillor and Board member Cr Mark perform vital work in the Gallery every week and who can all Board’s decision. These deliberations were of assistance Harris’s intelligent and measured approach has been a much proudly say they have played a very real role in establishing in identifying loan terms that could balance the Gallery’s valued contribution in this year of change. and delivering this year’s result for the Gallery. responsibilities with the expectations of the community. In July we farewelled long-serving Gallery legend, Dr Anne Gordon Morrison, our formidable and talented Director, This year has been described as ‘a time of structural reform Beggs-Sunter. After an amazing thirteen years on the Board and the Gallery staff must be celebrated for their part in delivering amazing operating results and extraordinary and consolidation’ by our Director. Indeed this has been the of Management we will sorely miss Anne’s attention to exhibitions in what has been a period of change and case with the physical structure. The Gallery footprint has Gallery history. Dr Loris Button’s balanced presence ended transition. undergone major expansion thanks to a generous with the end of her term as President of the Association $1.9 million Victorian State Government and City of Ballarat although we welcomed the fresh energy of Claire Blake. co-funded upgrade, resulting in a visually beautiful and Janet Dore retired after having proved herself to be a Despite not holding a major pay show in 2010-2011 the edgy Annexe extension to the Function Hall. powerful advocate for the Gallery and in June 2011 Bruce Art Gallery of Ballarat stands out as one of the most visited Morgan retired after eight years of service. His concise public art galleries in Australia outside the National and Works were also completed at the front of the Gallery contributions were so often instrumental as a catalyst to State galleries. As far as we can see in 2010-2011, the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s visitation and education numbers enabling us to forge a relationship with new café operator Board decision making. We warmly and affectionately exceeded all other Australian regional galleries – together Melissa Staley and Sweet Decadence at the Gallery whose thank our former colleagues for their time and valued with all of the above, this must make it truly one of hospitality continues to impress. contribution. Australia’s best regional galleries. We have maintained our momentum of governance The pleasure of welcoming Board members appointed reform. Following the registration of the Gallery as a Not in October 2011 rightly belongs to the next Chair and for Profit Company Limited by guarantee in July 2010, the the next Annual Report. To the new Chair, Garry Taylor, Gallery advertised extensively to attract applicants from congratulations and thanks of the highest order are due. Sari Baird Melbourne and regional Victoria to sit on the Board. With Garry has been a tremendous Board contributor and, at a Chair the appointments of Peter Afford, Vicki Coltman, Dr Jennifer personal level, a huge support to me in his role as Deputy Jones-O’Neill and Associate Professor Ruth Rentschler in Chair. Garry has achieved a ‘trifecta’ in racing parlance - with 4 5 Director’s Report During the last financial year, the new Board structure and January 2011 was the Divisional Director from the City of The Adopt an Artwork program continued to produce some independent status, January 2010 saw the Gallery taken governance model came into operation after three years of Ballarat who had charge of shepherding this new structure extraordinary results. In fact, in spite of new donors not out of the City’s Arts and Culture unit and I now report to discussion and debate. We have seen the emergence of an through Council. being actively pursued during this time, we still continued the Director Destinations and Connections in terms of the independently chartered Not for Profit Board, composed of to receive offers to donate. It can honestly be said that the Gallery’s key relationship with the City of Ballarat. Board Directors selected for their management skills. In September 2010 the Gallery deposited the Eureka Flag program has gained its own momentum. A second phase with Artlab Australia, arguably the most experienced will be launched in the coming year. I cannot say that it has been a particularly easy year but I The Gallery is now a distinct entity rather than being a textile conservation laboratory in the country. This was have enjoyed working with a wide range of supporters of ‘department’ or ‘business unit’ of the City of Ballarat. It the beginning of a major project which has seen the We said farewell to Exhibition Officer Susan Murphy in the Gallery. Board members, Association Council Members, can develop its own identity and plot its future course flag conserved for the first time since the early 1970s. September 2010 and in January we gained Brenda Wellman Gallery Guides and the Gallery Women’s Association have all of development without being subject to the dictates of The process was so complex that it was not in fact from the Albury Art Gallery. Also in January we welcomed had significant roles to play and I thank them for the many whatever division of Council it might find itself in. Areas completed until after the end of the financial year covered Peter Freund onto our staff as a full time Marketing and hours they have given up to support this great institution. where it can apply this independence range from exhibition by this report. During the time that the Flag was under Public Programs Officer and in May Kelly Briggs joined programming to fund-raising, education initiatives, conservation the Gallery received requests to make us as our first ever full time Business Support Officer. This collecting policy, building programs and conservation. In it available on loan and these requests were to prove expansion in staffing could well be described as a first fruit